Force feed lubricator



June 18, 1940. 2,204,878

J 8, 1940. H. E. ANDERSON 2,204,878

FORCE FEED LUBRICATOR Filed March 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /z 4 za 4 3 25 g gwum'vbob Patented June 18, 1940 UNl'iED stares FORCE FEED LUBRIGATOR Harry E. Anderson, La Junta, 0010. Application March 8, 1938, Serial No. 194,699

'12 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of fluid distribution and pertains more specifically to improvements in force feed lubricators.

The present invention has for its primary object top-rovide an improved force feed lubricator having a novel construction whereby the distribution of fluid in jets or pulses to a number of distributing lines may be accomplished and whereby a better lubrication of mechanical movements connected with the device may be obtained without requiring that the lubricator be given any special attentionother than to see that it is. constantly provided with a supply of lubricant.

Another object of the invention is to provide anovel force feed lubricator having novel means associated therewith whereby a number oifeeds may be served from one supply pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a force feed lubricator having in addition to a primary pump or piston unit designed to establish a necessary pulsating pressure against abody of fluid, individual or supplementary pistons operated by the pulsations established by the primary pump to move the fluid through distributing-lines in regulated quantities;

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a structure of .the above described character, a novel means whereby the supplementary pistons serve the double function of pushing the fluid through the distributing lines connected with the lubricator and of shutting'off the in-flow of fluid to the chambers from which it is ejected by the supplementary pistons.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a force feed lubricator, a novel means for regulating the quantity of fluid ejected from the main body of the lubricator into the feed or distributing lines connected therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a force feed lubricator, a novel supplementary structure adapted to be coupled with a distributing line leading from theimain lubricator structure, by which the fluid passing through said line may be divided into a number of streams for distribution,.thesaid supple drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in top plan of the force feed lubricator embodying the present invention, showing the split feed unit coupled therewith. Figure 2 is avertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line W 9f Figure 2- Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I generally designates the body of the force feed lubricator from which a plu' rality' of distributing lines extend to the points of distribution as will be hereinafter more fully described. This body I is here shown as being of circular cross section and is provided with a fluid pressure chamber 2 in its lower part which opens into the threaded bore 3 in which is threadably engaged one end of a pump sleeve 4. Reciprocably disposed within the sleeve 4 is the pump piston 5 and the outer end of the sleeve 4 is interiorly enlarged, as indicated at 6, to receive packing l which is retained in place by the collar 8 which fits into the enlarged area 6 and the .cap 9 which is centrally apertured for the passage of the piston 5 therethrough and which fisthreadably engaged over the outer end of the sleeve 4 and bears against the collar 8 to compress the packing l in the manner shown. Thus, a fluid tight connection is established between the piston 5 and the sleeve 4.

and between this head and the end of the cap 9 is an expansion spring 1 l which normally tends to move the piston outwardly from the sleeve.

' Any'suitable means may be employed for operating the piston 5, such as a mechanically actuated unit in the form of a cam or the like.

The body i has a fluid inlet duct l2 leading downwardly thereinto from the top thereof and the lower end of this duct communicates with a cross passage l3, which opens into the lower end of the central longitudinally extending chamber M. which, .at its inner end, has the two succes-' sive reductions in diameter, as indicated at l5 and iii, whereby are formed the two ball valve supporting. sets H and I8. The chamber I l opens at its upper end through the top of the body I and is closed by the plug l9 and this plug presses against the upper end of a valve ball seating spring 20, which, at its other end, bears against the ball valve 2i which rests upon the seat IT. This ball valve 2| constitutes a pressure relief valve, the operation of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Beneath the pressure relief valve 2| is located the smaller ball valve 22 which rests upon the seat [8 and which constitutes a means for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet duct I2 to the pressure chamber 2, the fluid, after escaping from beneath the check valve 22, passing around through the passage 23 and into the chamber 2, as illustrated.

As shown, the pressure chamber 2 extends laterally from the longitudinal center of the body I beyond the point of entrance of the passage 23 and disposed in circular order around the longitudinal center of the body and vertically thereof are the fluid outlet conduits, each of which is generally designated by the numeral 24. Each of these conduits opens at its lower end into the chamber 2, as illustrated, and each has two successive enlargements, which are indicated by the numerals 25 and 26, the greater one of these enlargements being at the upper end of the conduits, as shown, and being threaded to receive an outlet check valve carrying plug 27 which also serves as a means of governing or regulating the quantity of fluid passing through the conduit into a distributing line.

In each of the conduits 24, where the first enlargement 25 begins or joins with the narrower portion of the conduit, there is formed a shoulder 28 which operates as a means for limiting the movement in one direction of a free floating piston 29, which is formed to fit snugly in the intermediate portion 25 of the conduit. This piston is relatively short as compared with. the portion 25 of the conduit in which it is located and there is formed in the body I, adjacent each conduit, the radial fluid supply passage 36 which establishes communication between the chamber l4 above the ball valve seat I! and the portion 25 of the adjacent conduit above the end of the piston 29 therein.

The chamber l4 above the valve seat I1 is supplied with fluid through the port 3! which leads from the duct l2.

The plug 21 which closes the upper and outer end of each conduit is tubular, as shown. and has intermediate its ends, the centrally apertured web 32 so that there is formed at the inner end of the plug, the spring chamber 33 and at the outer end the outlet check valve chamber 34. The chamber 34 has a coupling nipple 35 inserted thereinto with which a fluid distributing line 36 is connected. Within the chamber 34 is the outwardly opening ball check 3! which is maintained on its seat by the spring 38 which has one end engaging the ball 31 and the other end engaging the inner end of the nipple 35.

In. each conduit 24 there is located a reciprocable feed control plunger rod 39 which has one end extended into the intermediate portion 25 of the conduit, while its other end extends therefrom into the spring chamber 33 of the feed control plug 21 and intermediate its ends this rod has a collar 49 which serves as an abutment for one end of the control spring 4|, which surrounds the outer end of the rod and has its other end engaging the inner face of the web 32. The inner end of the aperture through the web 32 of the plug 21 serves as a seat for the tapered tip or point 42 of the control rod 39.

In the operation of the lubricator structure thus far described, a supply pipe leading from a suitable fluid supply source is connected in the outer end of the duct 12, the pipes 36 leading from the several plugs 21 are connected with the terminals which are to be supplied with the fluid. Upon the operation of the pump plunger 5, fluid will be drawn into the pressure chamber 2 past the one-way valve 22 when the plunger 5 is retracted and, at the same time, fluid will flow into the chamber l4 and through the passages 30 to fill the area between the lower end of each plunger rod 39 and the wall of the portion 25 of the conduit in which it is located. When the piston 5 is pushed upwardly, the fluid in the chamber 2 will be subjected to pressure and this pressure will be transmitted through the fluid in each of the narrower inner end portions of the conduits 24 to the free floating pistons 29 causing them to be projected upwardly or forwardly in their respective conduits and to push ahead of them the rods 39 until the tapered forward ends of the rods 42 seat against the inner end edges of and close the passages through the webs of the plugs 27. During this movement of each piston 29 the fluid contained in the conduit above the piston, that is in the upper part of the intermediate portion of the conduit and in the chaml her 33 of the plug, will be forced upwardly so that a portion of the fluid will be forced past the outlet check valve 31. It will also be noted that as soon as the piston 29 in a conduit moves a short distance, it will close the fluid inlet passage 39 so that none of the pressure exerted by the piston 29 can escape into the fluid chamber [4.

By moving the plugs 21 outwardly or inward- 1y, it will be noted that the extent of travel of the rods can be increased or decreased so that the quantity of fluid ejected through each plug can be regulated.

By the provision of the relief valve above the inlet passage 23, it will be seen that if excessive pressure is built up in the chamber 2, which cannot be relieved by the movements of the pistons 29, it may be relieved by the escape of the compressed fluid past the valve ball 2! and into the duct l2.

The numeral 43 designates a split feed unit which may be used in association with the force feed lubricator and which is adapted to be coupled with a pipe line 44 having one end connected with the body I to receive fluid from the pressure chamber 2, as illustrated. By means of this split feed attachment a single fluid line may be run to a desired point and there coupled with the split feed attachment to facilitate dividing the fluid and carrying the divisions to serve individual lines to adjacent distributing points.

While the attachment 43 may be constructed so as to take care of any number of feed lines, it is here illustrated as being adapted to he coupled with two lines. As shown, the split feed attachment comprises the elongated body 45 having the fluid inlet passage 46 which, at its outer end, is adapted to be coupled with the pipe 44 through a suitable nipple coupling. This passage 46 leads into two oppositely directed passages 41 each of which has a shoulder 48 adjacent the point of connection with the passage 46 and is enlarged at its outer end to receive the adjustable plug 49. As will be readily recognized, these passages 41 are analogous to the conduits 24 in the body I and as is the case in connection with each of the conduits 24, the shoulder 48, which is analogous to the shoulder 28, supports a free moving piston 59.

The plugs 49 are each of tubular form like the plugs 21 and have a centrally apertured web 50a dividing each plug 49 into an outer valve chamber 5| and an inner spring housing chamber 52. A plunger control rod 53 is located in each passage 41 and has an end extended into the narrower part of the passage for contact with the adjacent piston 59 while the outer end is tapered to form the point 54 which is adapted to enter the aperture in the web 59a of the adjacent plug to close the same when the rod is projected outwardly by the piston 59 with which it is engaged. Each rod 53 is forced inwardly away from the apertured web 50 by the spring 55.

The valve chamber 5| of each plug 49 houses the ball valve 56 and the spring 51 by which it is held seated, and this spring is retained in the chamber by the nipple 58 which facilitates coupling a distributing pipe with the split feed attachment.

In the bodythere is formed adjacent each passage 4'7 and upon the opposite side thereof from the inlet passage 45, the fluid receiving chamber or reservoir 59 which is connected with the adjacent passage 41 by an inlet 60 and an outlet 51. As shown, the inlets 60 for the fluid reservoirs 59 are each covered by a piston 59 when the latter is seated on its supporting shoulder 48 and the outlet passage 61 is so disposed that it will at this time be uncovered by the piston so that fluid may escape from the chamber into the area between the wall of the passage 41 and the inner end of the rod 53. The rods 53, and also the rods 39 which are in the conduits in the body I of the force feed lubricator, are of a diameter which will provide a substantial fluid area between them and the walls of the passages or conduits in which they are located.

In use, the split feed attachment is disposed so that the chambers 59 are above the passages 41 and thus when the piston 5 of the pump unit compresses fluid in the chamber 2, this fluid will be ejected through the pipe 44 and into the passage 46 to force the free floating pistons toward the outer ends of the passages, moving the rods 53 against the tension of the springs 55. As soon as the pistons 50 have moved sufliciently far to uncover the inlet ports 69 for the chambers 59, the fluid will pass into and fill these chambers and at this time the pistons 50 will be in position to cover the outlet ports or openings 6!. When the pressure is relieved, the springs in forcing the adjacent pins 53 back will return the pistons 50 to the seats or shoulders 48 and the fluid in the chambers 59 will then flow through the outlet ports 6| into the area between the adjacent rod 53 and the wall of the chamber or passage in whichit is located. When the second pressure impulse is imposed on the fluid'in the chamber and in the line 44 leading to the passage 46, it will be seen that the pistons when projected forwardly by this pressure will cover the outlet openings 6| of the chambers 59 and propel a part of the fluid which has run into the chambers 52, past the valves 56 and into the distributing lines which are coupled with the nipples 58. As soon as the tips 54 of the rods 53 enter the passages in the webs of the adjacent plugs 49 'to close the passages, further discharge of the fluid into the lines will be stopped and the back pressure built up will cause the fluid behindthe pistons -59 to enter the chambers '59 to replenish the same and any remaining pressure in the chamber 2 and line 44 will be relieved by the valve 2|, as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be" readily apparent that the-re is herein disclosed a novel form of force feed lubricator in which the fluid propelled thereby will be ejected through the distributing lines in short spurts which may be controlled conveniently so that the quantity of fluid injected into each line with each pressure impulse applied by the piston 5 may be accurately controlled.

It has been previously stated that the piston 5 may be operated in any suitable manner as by a mechanically actuated cam or the like and in this connection it is to be understood that the pulsating pressure of air, water, steam or any other fluid may be used'to operatethe piston if found desirable.

What is claimed is:

1. In a force feed lubricator, a body having a fluid pressure chamber, a fluid inlet duct leading to the chamber and having a one-way valve therein opening toward said chamber, means for subjecting fluid in the chamber to a pulsating pressure working against said valve and maintaining the same seated, a fluid outlet conduit leading from the chamber, a one-way outlet valve in said conduit, a piston in the conduit between the outlet valve and chamber and movable longitudinally of the conduit by the pulsation of pres- 0 sure on the fluid, and means for introducing fluid into the conduit between the piston and said outlet valve to be forced past the outlet valve upon the movement of said'piston by a pressure pulsation of the fluid.

2. In a force feed lubricator, a body having a main fluid chamber, a fluid duct leading into said chamber from a source of fluid supply, a one-way valve in said duct permitting fluid flow only toward said chamber, pump means communicating with the chamber and operating to draw fluid thereinto and compress the fluid therein, the fluid when under compression in the chamber maintaining said valve seated, a fluid conduit having one end in communication with the chamber, a check valve in said conduit permitting fluid flow through the other end thereof only in a direction away from the chamber, a piston in said conduit having movement through a predetermined range and moved by and upon duit opening away from the chamber, a piston in the conduit between the one-way valve'and chamber and movable longitudinally of the conduit by the pulsation of pressure on "the fluid, means for introducing fluid into the conduit between the piston and said one way'valve to be forced past the latter valve upon the movement "of said piston by a pressure pulsation of the fluid, Y

and means for relieving excess pressure in the pressure chamber.

4. A force feed lubricator comprising a body :having a fluid pressure chamber'therein, a'conduit leading fluid into'said chambeu' a'fluid outlet conduit connected with the chamber, one-way valve means controlling the flow of fluid through said first conduit into said chamber, means for imparting pressure to the fluid in the chamber and simultaneously forcing said valve to closed position, piston means in, said outlet conduit, means for shunting fluid across said valve from said first conduit into the second conduit ahead of said piston means, and an outlet check valve in said conduit past which the fluid therein is forced by said piston means, said piston means being actuated by the pressure applied to the fluid in said chamber.

5. A force feed lubricator, comprising a body having a fluid pressure chamber therein, a fluid inlet duct leading to said chamber, a one-way inlet valve in said duct, means for imparting pulsating pressure upon the fluid in the chamber, said pressure acting to maintain said valve closed, a fluid conduit in the body having one end in communication with said chamber, the other end of said conduit constituting a fluid outlet, a oneway valve in said conduit adjacent the outlet end thereof, a fluid moving piston in said conduit and actuated by pressure pulsations of the fluid in said chamber, and means for introducing fluid into the conduit between said piston and the outlet valve.

6. A force feed lubricator, comprising a body having a fluid pressure chamber therein, an inlet duct leading to said chamber, a one-way inlet valve in the duct, means for imparting pulsating pressure to fluid in the chamber, a pressure release chamber in the body and having an opening communicating with the pressure chamber, a fluid pressure actuated release valve normally closing said opening, said pressure release chamber being connected with the inlet duct between the inlet end of the same and the one-way valve therein, a conduit in said body having one end in communication with said pressure chamber, the other end of the conduit forming a fluid outlet, a piston in said conduit, an outlet valve in said conduit adjacent the outlet end thereof, and means for introducing fluid from said pressure relief chamber into the conduit between said piston and the outlet valve, said piston being actuated by pulsations of pressure imparted to the fluid in the pressure chamber.

7. A force feed lubricator, comprising a body having a fluid pressure chamber therein, a fluid inlet duct leading to the body, a valve in the duct permitting flow of fluid only toward the chamber, means for imparting pulsating pressure upon the fluid in said chamber, a conduit in the body having one end in communication with said chamber, the other end of the conduit forming an outlet for fluid and being of greater diameter than the said one end, the conduit being of intermediate diameter midway of its ends, an outwardly opening valve unit secured in the outlet end of the conduit and adapted to have a fluid conducting pipe connected therewith, a piston slidable in the portion of the conduit of intermediate diameter, means for introducing fluid into the conduit between said piston and said outlet valve carrying unit, a member in said conduit between the piston and said unit and bearing on and moving with the piston and operating to govern the length of movement of the piston in the conduit and to close the conduit at the end of such movement, and means for regulating the piston movement governing capacity of said means for increasing or decreasing the quantity of fluid ejected from the conduit by the piston.

8. A flow dividing means for connection with a fluid carrying pipe, comprising a body having an inlet port for connection with an end of said pipe, said body having a plurality of conduits therein arranged to receive fluid in one end from said inlet port, a one-way outlet valve in each of said conduits, means for coupling a fluid conducting pipe with the other end of each conduit, a movable piston in each of said conduits adapted to be actuated by the pressure of fluid entering the conduit through said port, means for by-passing fluid from the port into each conduit between the piston therein and the outlet valve whereby the movement of the piston under the pressure of fluid will eject the introduced fluid from the conduit, and a pin in each conduit engaged by the piston and moved thereby toward the outlet valve and acting to limit said piston movement and to close the conduit at the limit of such movement.

9. A flow dividing means for connection with a fluid carrying pipe, comprising a body having an inlet port for connection with an end of said pipe, said body having a plurality of conduits therein arranged to receive fluid in one end from said inlet port, a one-way outlet valve in each of said conduits, means for coupling a fluid conducting pipe with the other end of each conduit, a movable piston in each of said conduits adapted to be actuated by the pressure 01" fluid entering the conduit through said port, a fluid receiving chamber in the body for each of said conduits, each chamber having an inlet port leading thereinto from the adjacent conduit and an outlet port leading therefrom into the adjacent conduit, each conduit having the piston therein normally disposed to cover the inlet port to the adjacent chamber and to uncover the outlet port thereof, said pistons when shifted under pressure of fluid entering the first mentioned inlet port of the body uncovering the adjacent chamber inlet port and covering the adjacent chamber outlet port, and adjustable means movable in each of said conduits with the piston for regulating the extent of movement of the piston therein whereby the quantity of fluid ejected from each conduit may be regulated and for closing the conduit simultaneously with the limiting of such movement.

10. In a force feed lubricator, a body having a fluid receiving chamber therein, means for supplying fluid to said chamber, means for imparting a pulsating pressure to the fluid in the chamber, a conduit in the body having an end communicating with said chamber, the other end of the conduit constituting the outlet end, said conduit having an intermediate portion of a diameter different from the inlet end whereby a piston movement limiting shoulder is formed, a piston movable in said intermediate portion and adapted to engage said shoulder, means for supplying said intermediate portion of the conduit with fluid between the piston and said outlet end, a body inserted into the said outlet end of the conduit and having a passage longitudinally therethrough alined with the conduit, means for connecting a fluid distributing pipe to said last body, said last body including a centrally apertured web, a ball check valve normally closing the aperture of said web upon the side thereof remote from said piston, a pin member disposed in the conduit between the web and the piston and having one end engaging the piston, the other end of said pin being adapted to engage in said aperture in the other side of the Web, resilient means normally separating saidpin and web,

and said pin operating as a movement limiting means for the piston and a closure means for the web when'forced outwardly by the piston.

ll. In a force feed lubricator, a body having a fluid receiving chamber, means for supplying fluid to the chamber, means for impressing a pulsating pressure on the fluid in the chamber, an outlet conduit in the body having an end communicating with the chamber, said conduit having an intermediate portion of enlarged diameter and an outer end portion of maximum diameter, a piston movable in said intermediate portion by the pulsating movements of fluid against one end thereof, means for introducing fluid into said intermediate portion ahead of the other end of the piston, a plug in the portion of the conduit of maximum diameter and having a passage longitudinally therethrough, said plug passage being divided by a centrally apertured web, means for connecting a distributing pipe with the outer end of the plug, an outwardly opening ball check valve between said last means and the web and adapted to close the web passage, a pin member having an end extended into the portion of the conduit of intermediate diameter and engaging the piston and having its other end disposed in said plug in spaced relation with said web passage, means normally tending to separate said pin from said apertured web, and said pin having its outer end termed to close the web passage when the pin is forced outwardly by the piston, said plug being longitudinally adjustable in the conduit to vary the extent of movement of the pin by the piston.

12. A force feed lubricator comprising a body having a fluid receiving chamber, means for imball valve disposed upon the other of said seats,

an outlet conduit communicating at one end with said first chamber, an outwardly opening ball check valve in the other end of the conduit, a fluid actuated piston in the outlet conduit, and means for conveying fluid from the supplemental chamber into said outlet conduit between the piston and the outlet check valve, said spring pressed ball being adapted to relieve excessive pressure in the first mentioned chamber to permit the fluid thereof to flow back to the fluid inlet passage,

E, A DERS 

